The Meelans Have The Floor

When Mark and Kyra Meelan left for separate colleges in Virginia, both envisioned living and working outside the Mohawk Valley.

But soon after graduating, the siblings, who are two years apart in age, ended up returning to their family home in Clinton and eventually working at the family’s business, Meelan Floors – Carpet One.

“I wasn’t planning to come back to be in the flooring business,” said Kyra Meelan, who majored in anthropology at Sweet Briar College in Virginia. “I wanted to work with horses because that’s what I’ve always liked to do.”

After returning to the Mohawk Valley, Kyra Meelan was unable to find the job she wanted and took a few part-time jobs “here and there” to get by.

“I think my father got sick of me lying around the house and said why don’t you come down to the store and at least do something full-time,” she said with a laugh.

While attending Lynchburg College in Virginia, Mark Meelan, majored in law enforcement and helped the National Guard cut down marijuana fields for “Operation Green Harvest.”

“But somehow, I always knew I would come back,” he said.

And you won’t hear any complaints from Joseph Meelan, who is happy his children, who do a little bit of everything at the flooring store, came back.

“It gives me the ability to spend time with them,” he said. “When they were younger…I was working most of the time, so I didn’t see them as much when they were children and teenagers as I do now.”

Meelan Flooring was started by Joseph Meelan’s father, Nelson Meelan. The store carries a variety of flooring, including hardwood, ceramic and tile, and high quality carpeting from Ralph Lauren, Karastan, Liz Claiborne and others. It also offers interior decorating services and carries imported rugs from India, Pakistan and other countries around the globe.

Neither sibling has any regrets about leaving the relatively warm Virginia climate to return to the Mohawk Valley and its frigid winters.

“I like the fact that it’s centrally located,” Mark Meelan said. “I have friends in Philly, New York and Boston and we’re centrally located to all those areas, I like going to people’s houses and hearing them tell me how my grandfather put in their carpet. And now I’m doing the same thing.”

“The area could be better,” Kyra Meelan said, “But I like that it’s a small town. I know so many people there are so many people who come (into the store) who knew my grandfather.”

Although larger metropolitan areas might look attractive to many of the region’s young people, Joseph Meelan believes living in the Mohawk Valley has many advantages.

“I think this area is unique because of its lack of congestion,” he said. “Sure there are areas with more growth, but it’s a tradeoff because the cost of living is much higher, And there are all sorts of opportunities (here) for sporting events and entertainment. Too many people dwell on the negative. This is a great place to raise a family.”

Courtesy of the Observer Dispatch